Two Sides to Everything
Disclaimer: I don't own anything but my original characters like Colle and Zack.
Sushi: Remember no review no chapter. I am very serious, but so far you've been good about that part.
Jak: The serious thing doesn't suit you.
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Chapter 12: Things Happen...
Earlier that morning Torn had called Jak on a mission saying Vin had found some strange eco readings. Jak headed toward the ruins of Dead town from which the readings were supposedly coming. He had let Colle sleep in this time. She hadn't been getting enough sleep lately.
The two of them trained together over the last four days. Colle had been learning to control her powers. Jak had tried to get her to read his thoughts but it turned out she could only read people's minds when the feelings were intense.
Dead town was a wreck. Everything about it just seemed to scream out that something was there. Strange noises called out in the distance as Jak walked among the rubble of his once beloved Sandover village. Memories came back to him.
Through all of his mingled thoughts Jak remembered why he was in this place to begin with. He was looking for eco. Vin had told Torn this had been one of the major readings similar to the old wasteland metal head nest. It could also be possible it held a clue to Ashelin's disappearance.
"Jak." Colle's voice rang through his ears.
"Yeah?"
"Where are you?" She sounded as if she had just woken up. "Torn just told me you were out looking for eco. Want any help?"
"No. I've got it under control. You just go back to sleep, okay?" The stars were still out and the sun had hours yet to go until it began its path across the sky.
"Well, okay." She passed with a yawn. "Call me when you're on your way back." The comm. shut off.
Jak rummaged through the rocks and other debris for a good hour before he spoke to himself, "Maybe it wouldn't have been a bad idea for Colle to come out here. At least we would've found the eco."
While searching, Jak's mind traveled back to the last few days. Zack had been saved and Colle was happier now than he had ever seen her. Of course that might also have had a little help from her and Jak's developing relationship.
Thinking of when he had kissed her, he than wished he hadn't. Both thought about it or kissed the teenage girl. Jak was still in love with Ashelin. That's why he was out here in the forsaken hours of the morning. He wanted to get her back. He had returned to the old metal head nest earlier that week only to find it completely empty.
The sound of footsteps moving through the water pulled him out of his reverie. Jak wiped around with his gun ready at incredible speed. There wasn't anything there. Turning back around slowly, Jak noticed a faint orange glowing coming from beyond a large mound of rubble.
Curiously, Jak climbed over the loose rocks until he was at the top. The orange-ish yellow light poured out from the cracks in the ground. As he moved closer he could feel that he wasn't alone.
An electrically charged purple beam came buzzing by Jak's face narrowly missing his nose. With his gun still out he turned to where the shot had come. Three juice goons and four metal jackets were moving up the rubble. They were different from normal ones, though. Armor now covered the jackets and the goons looked more sinister with longer claws and blood red eyes.
Jak tried both his blaster and vulcan fury modifications but was unable to even scratch the metal heads. They were too fast and had armor to protect them. He tried the peace maker and was able to take out a goon and two jackets until he ran out of his already low ammo. His arm was throbbing from the poison of a jacket that had gotten close enough to sting him.
With his gun useless, Jak began to transform himself. But something was holding him back. It felt as if lightning had arched through his body as his light and dark sides faced off. One second he was turning dark and the next he was spouting wings of light. He had hardly any control as the pain from their war passed through him.
Seeing their opportunity, the mutant metal heads readied for another attack. The two goons fired and the jackets waited for the dust to clear before moving in. They were disappointed.
A veil of blue light covered Jak as he still tried to control the eco flowing through his veins. The attacks had been deflected by the light shield while Jak had been in his dark form. Realization hit him like a ton of bricks. The light coming from the rocks was eco. If he could reach it he might stand a better chance of winning.
The four remaining metal heads chased their prey as he started to run away. He was heading towards the eco.
Jak was able to reach the glowing light before the metal heads were on him. Stepping into the yellow-ish light, the eco flowed into him mixing with both his own light and dark eco. Once he obtained the yellow eco he was able to take control of his warring sides. He transformed to Dark Jak and unleashed a new attack. Charging up the yellow mixed with dark he fired individually charged bombs at each of the metal heads. They fell within seconds.
The enemies fell and Jak returned to normal. It seemed as if the light and dark sides were content for the moment. All that was left from their fighting was a slight burning sensation in his hands.
He smiled to himself. He had a new power. When the rosrucs came out of hiding he would have a new trick to show them.
Jak later returned to Haven city going to HQ. Torn was marking all of the eco locations to be checked out later. Jak knew he was supposed to call Colle back. They were supposed to keep working on her powers. He just didn't want to. He had too many things on his mind.
"It was eco. Yellow." Jak walked into the main control room to fin Torn.
"Interesting. While you were out there, I had Vin pinpoint every eco opening close by. There are two, but they're weaker than the one you went to. They may be under ground." Torn never took his eyes from the map. He continued writing down the coordinates.
"You call that interesting? I just ran into a couple of metal heads. Something's happened to them. They've gotten stronger."
Torn stopped what he was going. "How can that be? We've wiped almost all of them out."
"Well, apparently the one's that we didn't get are stronger then before. This isn't going to be good." There was a silence. "I think they're trying to regroup. They're going to attack the city again and if that happens..."
"We won't win. Not if this new enemy continues to kidnap our soldiers." Torn looked as if he wanted to say something more but changed his mind.
"What?" Jak saw the look on his face.
"I lied to you about Ashelin." He sounded so guilty.
"About what?" He didn't like where this was going.
"There was blood at her post. We don't know if it was hers or not." He waited for the explosion he knew was coming.
"Why didn't you tell me this before?" His rage was building. Not only was Ashelin gone now, but she was possibly injured or worse. He knew Ashelin could handle herself, but against this new enemy she wouldn't stand much of a chance. "Why didn't you tell me?" His voice rising.
"Because, I knew how you would react. If you want to get her back then you need to have a clear mind and that wouldn't have helped!"
"It would've just made me try harder! She would be back by now!" Jak started to head for the door.
"No, she wouldn't. I've looked everywhere. She isn't anywhere near here. All you need to worry about now is protecting that girl. Keep her from disappearing too." Torn knew he wouldn't get anywhere yelling. Jak was just as hardheaded as he was.
This seemed to have an effect on the young warrior. His temper cooled some what and he turned around. "You don't have to worry, she's safe." He wasn't sure what was going through his mind and took the eco locations and left Torn standing in the comm. room.
Jak headed for the Naughty Ottsel. He wanted to talk to Daxter. Not that he would know what Jak was going through but he could give suggestions.
There was the one person there that he didn't want to talk to right now. Colle and Zack were eating breakfast with Daxter and Tess. Jak walked over and sat next to Dax. "Can we talk?" He whispered as the two of them walked off without saying a word.
"Well that was rude. He could have at least said hello."
"He looked a little upset."
"How could you tell? He didn't even look at you?" He hadn't looked at anyone. What was up with him?
"He's like you are when you're mad. Maybe he's just not a morning person." Zack went back to eating.
'No.' Colle could tell something was going on. 'Something's bothering him.' She continued eating until Jak and Daxter returned.
"Good morning." Colle said cheerfully as soon as Jak sat down.
"Morning." Only a grumble was understandable when he put some food in his mouth. He seemed distant after his talk with Daxter.
Colle watched him wondering what was wrong. She caught a glimpse of his arm and froze. It was green and oozing. "What happened to your arm?"
"It's nothing." He went on eating like it was nothing.
"No it isn't." She reached out to touch it. He pulled away like she had burned him. It wasn't 'nothing.'
"Don't touch it." Jak hissed at her. Darkness flashed in his eyes but he quickly over came it.
"You have to get it looked at." What had gotten into him? Why was he acting like this? She reached out to grab his arm again.
"Just don't worry about it." Jak finished his meal quickly and headed for the door. "I'm going out for a while. See you guys later."
"What's his problem?" Zack said as he watched Colle. She looked slightly hurt at Jak's harshness.
"No, he just has a lot on his mind. He'll come back once he's able to think things through." Daxter got up to get the payment from one of his early morning customers. "He just doesn't understand others feelings too well. Don't worry about him."
Jak didn't show up until many hours later. He had spent his time at HQ again. He still didn't know what to do about Colle and Ashelin. And on top of it all now he felt bad about how he had snapped at Colle for worrying about him. But something else scared him. Even for the slightest second his dark side had flared up inside him at Colle. He didn't know why.
Colle had done her own training. She had spent much of her time in the gun course. Zack watched her until he got hungry. He complained until Colle finally went to Daxter's place.
Once there, Colle noticed Daxter acting strangely. As soon as the two had sat down Daxter looked over to them and left the room. What was everyone's problem today? Why was Jak so upset and why did Daxter like his life depended on it? Colle recalled Jak wanting to talk to Daxter alone. That must have been their big secret. But what was it?
Colle's curiosity was getting the better of her. Daxter knew something and for some odd reason she knew it had something to do with her. Waiting a few minutes until Zack had gotten his lunch, Colle got up and followed Daxter. The Naughty Ottsel wasn't a big place it wouldn't be hard to find the orange rat. Passing through a second door Colle found him climbing through a window.
"What do you think you're doing?" Colle walked up behind the ottsel and grabbed him by the tail. "You're not trying to leave are you?" She brought him up to eye level.
"Could you let me go? I think my tail's going to fall off." He wiggled trying to get free.
"Not until you tell me what's going on." He became still. "You and Jak had a conversation this morning. It was private."
"He didn't want anyone to overhear. It really wasn't important." Jak had told Daxter not to tell anyone. Colle was making it extremely difficult. The blood was rushing to his head making him dizzy.
"There wasn't anyone there but us. Who would overhear him? I can stand here all day, Daxter. All you have to do is tell me what's wrong with Jak and what it has to do with me." She waited a few minutes until he spoke.
"Fine." He waited for Colle to put him down. "You're right. It does have to do with you." He sighed. "But not completely."
"Then talk."
Daxter told Colle of what him and Jak had spoken of earlier. He watched Colle as her expression changed from one of irritation to slight embarrassment then to sadness.
"That's why he is the way he is. Jak's never been too good about expressing his feelings and wasn't too good at seeing it in others either. He's torn between his new feelings for you and his continued love for Ashelin. He thinks he shouldn't have kissed you. That it was a mistake."
Colle flinched when Daxter said that last part. Did Jak really think that? He was the one who had kissed her.
"You don't really have to worry though." Daxter could tell what he had said stung her but she needed to know the whole story not just bits and pieces. "Jak's confused, but he does care about you. He just needs to see that he cares more for you instead of Ashelin."
"Thanks, Daxter." Colle whispered. "I really wanted to know."
"Just one thing. Don't let Jak know I told you all of this. Okay?" Daxter jumped up onto Colle's shoulder. "He'd kill me."
"Deal." She smiled a weak smile and walked back into the main area of the saloon.
It took Jak most of the day and the evening to search each of the locations. He found nothing, not even the eco Vin had reported. When he was about to give up for the day, an unknown voice came through his comm. unit.
"Captain Jak, sir?" It must've been one of the old Krimson Guard members. After the Baron had died and the planet saved from the Dark Makers and Errol, those who had been under the Baron's rule had gotten word that Jak was the true heir to the throne. With his display of courage in the face of certain demise, Jak had slowly but surely gained their respect. The citizen's, however, weren't too keen on the idea of having a so called "eco freak" as their ruler.
"What is it?" Maybe some sort of clue had been found.
"I was told that you were to report to the Naughty Ottsel. Torn would have told you himself but he had other certain agendas to attain to." The soldier sounded uncertain of something.
"Did he happen to mention, why?"
"No, sir."
"I'll be there as soon as possible." Nothing had been found. If there had been something then he wouldn't have to go half-way across the city just to find out what it was.
With the sun going down to his back, Jak slowly made his way to the port and the Naughty Ottsel. Entering the bar he found it completely empty. He didn't even see Dax. Without another thought Jak sat at the bar deciding to wait only a few minutes before heading towards his apartment. Just as he was getting ready to leave the elf turned to find Ashelin standing in the doorway out of breath and with a wide smile on her face.
"Ashelin." Jak whispered before rushing to her and hugging her. "I've been so worried about you." Jak pulled away to look at her. She was covered in blood and dirt, but other than a few niches nothing too bad was visible.
Relieved that she was safe Jak pulled her into a deep but passionate kiss. He felt a strangeness between them as their lips touched but was unable to place it. He was just glad to see that she was okay. The two kissed and held one another minutes more.
The automatic doors came open silently. So silent that they didn't disturb the two in the middle of the room. Colle almost entered the bar but when she saw Jak kissing Ashelin stopped. She couldn't believe her eyes. Without thinking anything else Colle ran. She didn't care where she went she just wanted to get away from the pain she was feeling. It hurt ten times more than anything Jeremy had ever done to her.
Daxter had been watching the scene as well. He couldn't believe what Jak had done and was still doing at the moment. He had just lost the one girl who he truly cared about but with his heart, not some made up forced emotions as with Ashelin. He had possibly made one of the biggest mistakes of his life. One that he might not be able to fix.
Sushi: How was it? As promised here is you inside look at chapter 13:
Colle and Jak aren't getting along too well, but the thing is Jak hasn't got a clue as to why. Late one night Torn has a mission for the two of them. Only Colle doesn't mention it to Jak. Thinking she could handle it on her own, Colle leaves. Later on Colle disapears. She wasn't kindapped. She vanished right before Jak's eyes.
Jak: Talk about the suspense.
Sushi: And all you have to do is review. I love them and so does my story. Good night I'm going to bed now. Review please.